Paper machine distributing apparatus



March 15, 1938. .1. P. STRASSER PAPER MACHINE DISTRIBUTING APPARATUSPatented Mar. l5, Wdfi i i DISTRWUMNG APPA- IRATTUS .lierome lP.Strasser, Hampshire, m, assignor to Stein, Hail Manufacturing Company,

Chicago,

Ill a corporation of Delaware Application December 0, 1937, Serial No.libfliid 4 Claims. This invention relates to paper makingand moreparticularly to machines adapted to dispense materials onto theFourdrinier wire of a paper making machine.

Successfully operating machines of this type are extremely difiicult toconstruct owing to the varied uses to which they may be put. Forexample, if such a machine is installed in a paper making machine inconjunction with a Fourdrinier wire the task that it performs willdepend upon the type of paper being manufactured at the time. Thus,during a certain run, the machine may be employed for the purpose ofdispensing starch and starch compositions. However, it may be desirableon the next run to dispense a filler or another material and the machinehas to be susceptible or capable of dispensing any such materials withcomplete success. Furtheriore, it is contemplated that the machine maybe employed for the purpose of delivering pulp to the Fourdrinier wireat the beginning of a paper making operation and this likewise is anadditionaltask that requires the machine to be flexible and capable ofalmostuniversal use.

With the foregoing considerations in mind, an object of the presentinvention is the provision of a new'and improved apparatus of the typedescribed by which various materials may be applied on the paper machineduring a paper making operation. Another object is to provide a machinewhich will apply these materials in such a way that the amount ofmaterial supplied is coordinated with the speed of the paper.

machine. Other objects and features of the in-' vention will appear froma reading of the following specification in the light of theaccompanying drawing in which Figure 1 represents diagrammatically inside elevation the Fourdrinier wire of a paper making machine, includinga diagrammatic representation of a distributing apparatus showngenerally at A;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation showing in detail the distributingapparatus illustrated generally at-A in'Figure 1; 1

Figure 3 is a plan view looking down on a portion of thedistributingapparatus illustrated in Figure 2; and I Figure 4 is a diagrammatic viewillustrating the manner in which the distributing apparatus may beemployed to flow pulp onto the Fourdrinier.

The apparatus of this invention which has proved successful on acommercial size paper making machine consists generally of a vesselcontaining the material to be distributed, am or roll rotating in saidvessel in contact with the material at its lower side, and an adjustabledistributing blade adapted to remove excess material from the drum as itrotates and cause the material to flow uniformly and evenly down aninclined path toward the wire web of the machine, fins positioned withinthe path to collect and distribute the'material, means for controllingthe height and volume of the flow of material collected .by thedistributing bladejand means for controlling and varying the speed ofthe rotating drum or roll and the angle of inclination of thedistributing blade adapted to control the volume of material dispensedand coordinate it with the speed of the wire.

By controlling the consistency of the composition to be added, thevolume of flow admitted to the distributing blade, the angle of deliveryand the speed of the rotating drum or roll, it is possible to add to thewire just the right amount of material to obtain the desiredcharacteristics. This construction is of outstanding importance. If thepaper machine is speeded upthe roll or drum rotating in the dispersionmay be likewise run at a faster rate and the angle of delivery changedin order to maintain the proper proportion between the amount ofmaterial being added and the amount of material flowing across the wire.

Referring to Figure l, the diagrammatic drawing illustrates aconventional Fourdrinier paper making machine comprising the well knownFourdrinier wire or screen 2, which travels in the usual way table rollst in the shaker or vibrating portion oi overa series of rolls designatedas I the machine, the suction couch roll 6, the dandy roll 8. andvarious other supporting rolls as generally illustrated. The wire orscreen also known construction. The paper stock flows from the head boxl2 onto the wire 2 and is carried by the wire at a relatively high rateof speed, usually varying anywhere from feet per minute to 1000 feet perminute 'or more. At the point where the paper pulp flows on the wire thepercentage of water is usually very high, ordinarily.being 99% or more,and the remainder of the materials consists of pulp or fiber and variouscompounding ingredients added in the beater, as, for example, alum,various sizing agents, water proofing agents and other mate rials of atype well known in the industry. After. the stock passes along the wirea substantial portion of the water is removed by gravity and an- 'otherportion is removed at the suction boxes l8, so that the paper web-whenit has passed the couch roll 6 normally has its water content reduced toaround 80%. Thereafter the wet sheet passes through the usual pressrolls I4 and then into the customary drying apparatus which consists ofnumerous heated rolls over which the paper is passed in various waysuntil it is suitably dried. T

, The distributing apparatus generally illustrated at A of Figure l, andmore specifically illustrated in Figures 2 and 3', consists of asuitable container or-box 16 which is mounted above the wire, preferablyin the shaker or vibrating section of the paper machine. The box may befastened to the frame of the paper machine if it is used on thestationary part of the Fourdrinier, or be supported independently, insuch a way that it is stationary, if used on a moving or vibratingsection. It is mounted upon any suitable type of adjustable mounting bywhich it may be raised or lowered, as, for instance, a screw device suchas generally illustrated. The device shown for raising and lowering thebox l6 consists of bolts 28 upon which are mounted nuts 22 and 24. Aprojecting portion 26 of the box is engaged by the nuts 22 and 24 andthus, by raising and lowering said nuts the box may be raised andlowered. Inside of the box i6 is a drum roll 28 which is driven by anysuitable driving mechanism by means of which its speed may becontrolled, so that any desired speed may be obtained that will providethe desired relationship with the varying speeds used on the papermachine. As roller 28 rotates, its lower portion picks up the solutionor dispersion to be distributed and transfers at least a portion of saidsolution or dispersion to a spreader blade 38. Before said solution ordispersion is transferred to spreader blade 38, however, it passesbeneath a doctor blade 32. This doctor blade 32 is positioned beyond thevertical axis through the center of rotating drum 28, as shown, and actsas a dam to control the height or level of the solution or dispersion onthe rotating drum and to partially control the amount thereof taken offof the roll 28 by the spreader blade 38. The doctor blade 32 isadjustable as illustrated by means of threaded bolts 34 attached theretoand engaged with a frame 36 by means of nuts 36 and 48. The manner ofraising and lowering the blade 32 by suitable adjustment of nuts 38 and48 will be apparent from the detailed showing in the drawing.

The spreader blade 38 is held against roll 28 at a point 42 by means ofa leverage device consisting of a spring 44 acting upon an arm 46 whichis rigidly connected to the spreader blade 38. The tension on spring 44may be increased or decreased by means of screw 48. As the tension isincreased the arm 46 is depressed and spreader blade 38 is likewisedepressed making and holding contactwith rotating roll 28 at point 42.

Spreader blade 38 contains flutes or fins 58 near the lower end thereofwhich are preferably substantially rectangular in cross section. The topand bottom edges of fins 58 are preferably streamlined and of suflicientheight to collect and distribute the dispersion or solution withoutallowing it to overflow from one flute or fin to the next.

. During a short space 52, after the dispersion or uniform unitary filmof substantially the same height and volume throughout the width of thespreader blade. Thus, an even distribution of the dispersion on thepaper web is insured. For the purpose of the invention the size of theflutes or fins 58 and the distance therebetween may be varied accordingto the type and amount of material being delivered and according to thepurpose for which the machine is to be used. For example, in deliveringa dispersion of a starch or filler to a machine in which the paper pulpis flowing at a rate of 500 to 600 feet per minute, the openings 54 maybe about one-fourth inch wide and inch high, whereas in delivering apulp or flbrous material, wider and higher flutes may be necessary.

The height of the fluted blade 38 above the paper web may be controlledby means of an adjustable screw 56 or other suitable means. It will beobserved that the blade 38 is supported through a large portion of itssurface by a truss or supporting element 58 which is connected to an arm68. Arm 68 is an axis on which spreader blade 38 is adjusted inrelationship to its contact with roll 28. Axis 64 is an axle whichcarries roll 28 and on which is mounted arm 68; it forms an axis for themovement and adjustment of spreader blade 38 in relation to its positionat the paper machine wire. By adjustment of screw 56 arm 68 may beraised or lowered, thereby decreasing or increasing the inclination ofthe spreader blade 38 with respect to the paper web flowing over thewire 2. The general relationship of the spreader blade 38 and rotatingdrum 28 is always substantially the same by virtue of the connecting arm68.

A dispersion to be distributed upon and into the paper web on the wireis introduced into the box i6 through any suitable opening such asillustrated at 66. By any suitable means (not shown) a constant level orhead of dispersion is maintained in box I8 through the introduction ofthe dispersion into the box at a rate greater than the rate of delivery.The roll 28 is preferably driven by a variable speed motor and thelinear speed of the roll corresponds to the linear speed of paper on themachine wire,.although the linear speed of the roll may be slightlygreater or slightly less than the rate of flow of the paper sheet. Goodresults have been obtained by having the rate of flow of the dispersion,such as starch or starch compositions, over the blade 38, that is, therate of delivery, slightly behind or lagging as compared with the rateof flow of the paper sheet. Thus, in a paper machine in which the paperis being made at the rate of about 500 to 600 feet per minute the rateof flow of the starch dispersion onto the sheet from delivery blade 38is preferably slightly less, say about 30 feet per minute less.

By regulating the concentration of the dispersion, the speed of therotating drum or'roll 28, the inclination of the spreader blade 38, thetension of the spreader blade 88 against the rotating drum 28 and theheight of the doctor blade 32,

it is possible to regulate and control the rate and amines in the paperproduced. Thus, by mounting the mullen and fold tests,

apparatus in such a way as todeliver the material at the drier portionsof the paper machine, it is possible to produce variations in thesurface characteristics of the paper, but for. most purposes where it isdesired to improve the general characteristics of the paper andparticularly the excellent results are obtained by mounting thedistributing device so as to deliver the dispersion to the paper webover the shaker portion of the machine.

Turning now to Figure 4, the distributing apparatus is shown in positionto distribute pulp itself to the Fourdrinier wire. As thus illustrated,it takes the place of the customary head box and slice and has beenfound to be admirably adapted the purpose at hand. For this operation,the distributing apparatus may be slightly modified. The fibrousmaterial (e. g., a dispersion of to /2% pulp in water with othercustomary ingredients) is supplied to the drum 68 from a suitableslotted pipe '10, or other means connected to a source of supply. As thefibrous material comes into contact with drum 68 it is carried forwardand. leveled to a suitable height and volume by a blade H or othersuitable means for regulating the height and volume of the material. Thematerial is taken from the drum by spreader blade and distributed to.the wire at the breast roll after passing through fins is provided tocatch water flowing from drum B8. The entire apparatus may be mademovable upwardly by jack screws 80 and. to and from the paper machine bymounting on a track it.

For some purposes, the fins in-the spreader blade may be omitted, as,for instance, when. the apparatus is used in making low grade papers. Itis necessary at all times, however, to coordinate the rate of rotationof :the drum, the angle of delivery of the spreader blade and the rateof 'iiii iid flow of the material on the web or the paper machine. Y

This application maybe considered a continuation in-part of mycopendingapplication Serial No. 150,435, men June 2c, 1931.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United-States is:

1. In combination with a Fourdrinier paper making machine, means fordistributing material to a point on the wire of the paper machine, saidmeans comprising a vessel containing the material to be -'distributed,means rotating in said vessel in contact with said material at its lowerside, distributing means adapted to remove the material from therotating means during rotation of the latter and. cause said material toflow over said distributing means by gravity in an inclined it. A pan ortrap it 'means for supplying a the material on the rotating meanscomprising an elongated member extending lengthwise of the rotatingmeans in a manner adapted to form a dam ahead of the distributing means,and means for coordinating thespeed of the rotating means with the rateof flow of the wire web of the Fourdrinier machine.

2. In combination with a Fourdrinier paper making machine, means fordistributing material to a point on the wire of the machine, said meanscomprising a vessel containing the material to be distributed, a drumrotating in said vessel in contact with the material at its lower side,a distributing blade adapted to remove the material from the drum duringrotation of the latter and cause said material to flow over said bladeby gravity in an inclined path toward the wire web of the paper machine,fins positioned in said blade to collect and distribute the flow of thematerial, means for controlling the height and volume of the material onthe rotating drum comprising a doctor blade positioned lengthwise oi therotating drum in a manner adapted to form a dam ahead of thedistributing blade, adjustable means for controlling the flow of thematerial over the distributing blade, and means for coordinating thespeed of thedrum with the rate of flow of the wire web over said papermaking machine.

3. In combination with a paper making machine, means for distributing amaterial to a moving web on said machine, rotating means, means forsupplying a material to be distributed to said rotating means,distributing means adapted to remove the material from the rotatingvmeans during rotation of the latter and cause said material to flow oversaid distributing means by gravity in an inclined path toward the web ofthe paper machine and means for controlling the height, volume and rateof distribution oi the material distributed including means foradjusting and controlling the angle of inclination of the distributingmeans, means for controlling the height and volume of the material onthe rotating means, and means for coordinating the speed of the rotatingmeans with the rate of flow of the web of the paper machine.-

e111 combination with a paper making machine, means for distributing amaterial to a moving web on said machine. rotating means, material to bedistributed to said rotating means, distributing means adapt-. ed toremove the material from the rotating means during rotation of thelatter and cause said material to how over said distributing means bygravity in an inclined path toward the web of the paper machine andmeans for controlling theheight, volume and rate of distribution of thematerial distributed including means for adjusting and controlling theangle of inclination of the distributing means, and means for ordinatingthe speed of the rotating means with the rate of flow oi the web of thepaper machine.

JEROME P. STRASSER.

